Combination tool



Patented Aug. 9, 1938 UNlTED SATES COMBINATION TOOL Thomas F.McGoldrick, Chicago, 111.

Application July 20,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in combination tools and moreparticularly the construction of a combined brush and shovel mounted onthe same handle so that one does not tool of this character which issimple in construction and operation and which may be readily adaptedfor use as a brush or shovel by causing a slight change in thehorizontal relation between the parts and then a reversal in theirvertical relation to place the desired tool in operative position. It isa further object to so mount the two tools upon the samehandle to bemovable in relation to each other and to the handle, yet to allow eitherto be used in its normal manner without changing the angular relation ofthe handle to the ground from that customarily employed in the operationof either tool. It is also an object of this invention to providedetachable means to secure rigidly the tools upon the handle in eitherposition, and when detached to employ a rotative movement of the handleto assist the changing of the relation of the tools to each other. It isa still further object to provide a brush with detachable andinterchangeable bristles so that they may be replaced when worn outorinterchanged when partially worn.

The advantages of such a tool are obvious, and its uses are many. Whileoriginally contemplated for the use of the men employed to keep thestreets of a city clean, it may be used in the same manner in cleaningsidewalks, hallways and ofiices of buildings, gardens or other placeswhere it is desired to brush surface dirt or debris into small piles,and then shovel the pile into a receptacle for removal. Therefore, thistool is also available for home use in the manner of a broom and dustpan. The combined tool is balanced on the handle so that each may beused in the usual way without inconvenience or causing an unnaturalposition of the operator, as well as being readily changed from one tothe other with little effort on the part of the operator on account ofthe lever action of the handle in making a change. It has been foundthat the bristles in brushes customarily used for this purpose, andwhich are usually formed in parallel transverse rows, wear unevenly,that is, either the front or rear rows wear sooner than the intermediaterows according to the manner in which the operator holds the handle.Therefore, a brush which is provided with bristles formed in sectionsand detachably secured in the frame of the brush allows the interchangeof partially worn bristles and 1936, Serial No. 91,502

increases the life of the brush at an expenditure only of the effort tomake the exchange.

With these and other objects in view, reference is made to theaccompanying sheet of drawing which illustrates a pre ferred form ofthis invention with the understanding that detail changes may be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, and with the understandingthat the brush with the interchangeable and replaceable bristles, whilepreferable, may be replaced by a brush of the fixed bristle type withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of this improved tool illustratingthe position of the respective parts when the tool is desired to be usedas a brush or push broom.

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of Figure l,with a portion of thebrush broken away.

Figure 3 is a view' similar to Figure 1 illustrating the position of therespective parts when the tool is desired to be used as a shovel, withparts broken away and partly in section.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view in section taken on the line 44,Figure 2, with parts broken away.

Figure 5 is a viewin section on the line 55, Figure 1, looking in thedirectionof. the arrows.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, taken on the line 6-6, Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of Figure 3 with the bristles of the brushremoved and the handle ferrule broken away.

In the embodiment of this invention as illustrated, the brush I may beof the customary push broom type having a wooden base or back with thetransverse rows of bristles embedded'therein, but it is constructedpreferably of a metallic casing having a flat rectangular base or back 2closed at the front and the two short sides for detachably mounting rowsof bristles 3 arranged parallel to the long closed front, as hereinafterdescribed.

A shovel 4, preferably of stamped metal, having out turned flanges 5along the free edges of the sides is mounted upon the back 2 of thebrush l with the flanges 5 engaging in guides 5 provided therefor andsecured upon the back 2 so that the shovel may be retracted to positionits front approximately in line with the front of the brush, as shown inFigure 1, when the tool is to be used as a push broom, the guides 6being extended, preferably, at the rear of the back 2 to providerigidity to the connection of the shovel 4 to the brush I in thisposition. The exterior surface of the back 2 is provided, preferablywith an external rib 1 arranged adjacent and parallel to the long closedfront between the sides of the shovel 4 to be engaged by the rear end ofthe shovel to limit its outward movement when the shovel is extended, asshown in Figure 3, when the tool is to be used as a shovel.

The brush I mounting the slidable shovel 4 upon its back is attached toa handle 8, which may be of wood or whatever material desired, byproviding a metallic sleeve or ferrule 9 to receive the end of thehandle 8 which may be attached thereto in any desired manner. The handleferrule 9 is pivotally attached to the back 2 of the brush I by a frameor bail ID, the free ends of which are preferably out-turned andreceived in bearing II therefor secured to the back 2 and the centerportion attached to the ferrule 9, as shown.

To secure the handle 8 in proper relation to the tool when used eitheras a push broom or as a shovel and to assist in changing the movablerelation between the shovel and brush, a connecting link I4 is providedwhich is mounted to slide within a guide I5 mounted longitudinally uponthe ferrule 9. The link I4 is preferably circular in cross-section withone end having a sliding connection I6 with the back of the shovel 4 andthe opposite end provided with an operating pin or handle I! adapted totravel in a longitudinal slot I8 provided therefor in the guide l5 whichslot is provided at each end with an off set portion I9 to receive thehandle I! and hold it at each end of travel.

In the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, the tool is adjusted for useas a push broom with the shovel 4 retracted and the link I4 withdrawnWithin its casing I5 and the handle I1 held in locked position in theoff set slot I9 furthest from the shovel 4. When it is desired to changethe tool to a shovel, the handle 8 is depressed and rotated about thebearings I I which will initiate the extension of the shovel 4 in itsguides 6 through the locked link I4. The handle I! of the link I4 isthen rotated out of its locked position and is manually advanced in itsslot I8 until the rib I is engaged with the back of the shovel 4. Thetool is then in position to be used as a shovel and is turned with thebristle side of the brush I upward, as shown in Figures 3 and '7. Thesecuring of the link handle I! in the off set I9 nearest the shovel 4locks the tool with the brush and shovel in proper relation.

As heretofore stated, it is preferable to employ the particularconstruction of brush here illustrated which is disclosed and claimed inthe applicants Patent No. 2,112,297, granted March 29, 1938, upon anapplication filed in accordance with a requirement for division made inthis application. In this type of brush, the bristles are formed innarrow rectangular sections with the upper ends held together by glue orembedded in cement or other similar medium. The sections are of suchlength as to be receivable between the side closures depending from theflat back 2. The front section of bristles 3 is held in position againstthe front closure 2| depending from the flat back 2.

As many partitions 22 are provided parallel to the front closure 2| asthere are sections of bristles to be employed. These partitions 22 areequally spaced apart from each other and the front closure 2| and theirends are secured in any desired manner to the depending side closure 20.The embedded ends of the section of bristles 2 are inserted to restagainst the front closure 2i and each of the partitions 22 and securedthereto in that position by a series of adjustable follower plates 23preferably mounted upon guides 24 passing freely through the partitions22 and secured to each follower plate 23, as shown in detail in Figurel. When the brush sections are in place, the embedded ends are securedagainst the respective partitions 22 and front closure 21 by exertingpressure upon the guides 24, as by screws 25 freely mounted upon theouter follower plate threaded into the next adjacent fixed partition 22,or by any other desired means, so that the bristles 2 are rigidly heldin position and yet may be detached and removed for reversal orinterchange with another section.

What I claim is:

1. An attachment for a flat backed brush or the like having a handlepivoted thereto, including an inverted scoop shaped shovel mounted onthe back of said brush, means engaging and guiding the open side edgesof the shovel to slide upon the back of the brush, and a connecting linkattached to the back of the shovel mounted to slide lengthwise upon thesaid handle to extend and retract the shovel over the back of the brush,and means to secure the link to the handle at the respective ends of itstravel.

2. The structure of claim I wherein the end of the handle is providedwith means mounting a sleeve for slidably receiving one end of theconnecting link, the other end of the connecting link having a slidingconnection with the back of the shovel, said sleeve having alongitudinal slot therein with offsets at each end thereof, and anoperating handle mounted upon the received end of the link passingthrough the slot in the sleeve and adapted to secure the shovel at theopposite ends of travel of the link by engaging said link handle in atransverse offset.

THOMAS F. MCGOLDRICK.

